By Al Stilley
Editor

Young Christian Stewart didn't know it at the time, but when he became a sixth-grade student  at St. Roch Catholic School, the rest of his life would change in many ways.

"I had been missing something that I didn't know I was missing," said Stewart, who is a product of Roncalli High School and an outstanding senior on the Marian University basketball team.

The sharp-shooting backcourt ace for the Knights (16-4) is having an outstanding year as he recently scored 31 points for a career-collegiate high in a Jan. 18 home win against Mt. Vernon Nazarene. He led the Knights with 23 points Saturday in a 67-54 home win against Taylor University and ranks 10th among MU's All-time scorers.

Stewart has a string of five 20-plus point games since early Jan. 11.
 
Earlier Saturday, he talked about his background as a student-athlete, but, most importantly, the impact of Catholicism which he was introduced to in the sixth grade. He had attended public schools in Decatur Township through the fifth grade.

"St. Roch's was the first instance of dealing with religion in my life," Stewart recalled. "Academically it was a struggle, but I learned about faith there. I definitely began a different transition in how to go about things. It all seemed genuine. After that at Roncalli, I just tired to surround myself with people who had my best interest."

As Stewart continued with the Rebels (now Royals), he continued their hardwood legacy of four more winning seasons (57-44, all games). He shared the backcourt with Jimmy King as a sophomore, then averaged 18.8 points as a junior with a high-game of 36 points. Battling injury, he played in 13 games his senior year (15.6 points).

Stewart said his four years at Roncalli with small classes and devoted teachers helped lead him to the success academically and in the way he approaches life today. He is a member of the Class of 2017.
Considering Marian University, Stewart realized that the Knights utilized an offense with coach Scott Healy that had similarities to the spread-motion offense that coach Michael Wantz used at Roncalli.

"I had always been a scorer, but I have become a better defensive player," Stewart said. "Here (Marian), they have worked with me on my leadership and communication skills, on and off the court. And that has helped me and also has made the team better as a whole."

Stewart is a business management major and expects to enter the business world after graduation. Also, he still wants to be involved with the sport, perhaps as a coach.
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His parents are Natasha and Jeff and he has two sisters, Hannah and Avery, and one brother, Brady.

Sophomores Kevin Rogers, left, and Sarah Cook, and senior Aiden Burr, right, check out the chassis for a robot during after-school CyberCards session. (SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY)

By Al Stilley
Editor

The buzz of activity in classrooms on the southside of the Southport High School building is unmistakable. 
High school students in a large room work on various CAD designs while they consult with other students, their coaches, and mentors for ideas. They are among all robotics teams in the state who are designing and building robots for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competitions.

The CyberCards get tips on design and builds from an adjacent room, students are busily looking over design printouts, cutting and fashioning pieces and wiring, and building a robot.

The rooms are the home of the CyberCards, the FIRST robotics team, at the high school and one of three teams on the Southside, including CyberBlue at Perry Meridian and Red Alert at Center Grove. Each of the teams has had successes in FIRST competitions.

On this particular evening, Southport assistant robotics coach Jason Germann reviews the design protocol with CAD sub-team leader Jay Johnson. Students in the adjacent build room are active under SHS teacher Anthony Stanich. 

Twenty-five young CyberCards members with only one senior work together - the robotics program is the epitome of teamwork.

Overall, they design, build and program a robot for competition, apply real math and science concepts, develop problem-solving and organizational skills, and not only compete against other teams but form alliances with other teams in FIRST competitions.

Their enthusiasm is undeniable.

“Robotics has fueled my passion to be around like-minded people,” said sophomore Katie Essex. “Also to experience what I’ve never experienced before, seeing all the different robots and people working through problems for a common goal is something that is super-interesting.”

Essex was on the student council when programming teacher and robotics program director Mike Snodgrass presented a Mini-Movers program to provide a modified ride-on car for a  physically disabled Perry pre-school student to move around independently.

She wound up supervising the project, one of many that is part of the CyberCards community outreach program, that has been expanded to children at a physical therapy center in downtown Indianapolis.

Essex also has earned her student pilot license and will receive her private pilot’s license in January at age 17. She wants to major in aeronautical engineering and aviation at Purdue University.

Junior Adam Bartley became interested in robotics in Snodgrass’ programming classroom that is adjacent to the robotics build room. He initially became a part of the program’s zoo toys program for the Indianapolis Zoo. 

“I want to get involved with software design and engineering,” Bartley said. “This (robotics) provides me the steps through programming and design to the final project.”

His participation began with a team that is developing a robot with a small camera and transmitter that can enter a room undetected and scan the area for the Southport Police Department. He now is the student supervisor of developing the much-needed robot.

“I know it’s only one robot,” Bartley said. “It’s better that no one is hurt in certain situations; it could save a life.”

The community outreach programs take place from May to January before the competition robotics build season for district and state events  through April.

“As part of our vision statement, we try to share our passions with our community,” Snodgrass said. “Our hope is that other future students see us at our community activities and want to become a part of our program.  

The robotics program includes a variety of activities which attracted sophomore Rose Haflett, who is in operations. She has some interest in STEM but helps in CyberCards community outreach and has changed her post-high school interest from  architectural engineering to communication or infomatics.

“No matter what their interests, there’s room for students in robotics,” Haflett said. “I know the mentors and coaches will steer the students in a good direction.”

The program also includes the CyberCards Steelbeaks at the Southport Middle School.

The CyberCards have appeared at various community events as they seek year-round funding from businesses and corporations. They were 2016 district champions among being district finalists and also have received entrepreneurship and spirit awards.

They recently had their first competition at West Lafayette since 2019 due to covid restrictions and they will compete in league and state championships during this school year.

Snodgrass concluded, “Our team’s most important accomplishments have been to make more students career-ready.”
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Info: www.southportrobotics.org.

​Southport student Jay Johnson, a CAD sub-team leader, gives CyberCards team members advice on robotics designs.

​Sophomore Dick Sledge operates cutter for a major part in robot being built by CyberCards for competitions.

​This trio of Southport students is among key CyberCards who have specific but different roles. They are, from right, team captain Katie Eggers, programming team member Adam Bartley, and Rose Haflett, operations captain.